Roller coating machine



June 5, 1951 w, FAEBER 2,556,032

ROLLER COATING MACHINE Filed 001:. 6, 1947 I I 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT0R.. HARRY w. FAEBEP.

kwgjwg H/S ATTOQNEYS.

June 5, 1951 H. w. FAEBER ROLLER COATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 6, 1947 INVENTOR- HARRY W. FAEBER M FQ Hi5 ATIOENE Y5.

June 5, 1951 w, FAEBER 2,556,032

ROLLER COATING MACHINE Fild Oct. 6. 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet g X J N 3 N 3 VEA/Tog HARRY W. FAEBER H15 Arrow/5Y5,

June 5, 1951 H. w. FAEBER ROLLER COATINGMACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 6, 1947 MWN WWN INVENTOR. HARRY w. FAEBER Y (12 M. W i

June 5, 1951 H. w. FAEBER ROLLER comm MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 6, 194'? INVENTOR. HARRY w. FAEBER H/5 ATTORNEYS.

June 5, 1951 w, FAEBER 2,556,032

ROLLER COATING MACHINE File d Oct. e, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

HARRY W. FAEBER H/5 A TTORNEYS.

Filed Oct. 6, 1947 June 1951 H. w. FAEBER 2,556,032

" ROLLER COATING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 BY W W? m H/5 ATTORNEYS.

J 1951 H. w. FAEBER 2,556,032

ROLLER COATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 6, 1947 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 FIGJ I.

M/VENTOQ; HARRY W. FAEBER H/S A TTQQ/VEXS l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 INVENTOR. HARRY W. FAEBER H-ISI A TTORNEYS.

H W FAEBER ROLLER COATING MACHINE June 5, 1951 Filed Oct. 6, 1947 Patented June 5, 1951 ROLLER COATING MACHINE Harry W. Faeber, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to Time, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 6, 1947, Serial No. 778,079

19 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in coating apparatus, and it relates particularly to machines for applying a coating composition to one or both sides of a continuous web of paper, film or other flexible sheet material.

' An object of the present invention is to provide a coating machine that may be adjusted easily to apply a layer of coating composition of a desired thickness to one or both sides of a Web.

Another object of the invention is to provide a more easily adjustable mechanism for applying coating compositions to a web.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved quick-release mechanism for. interrupting the coating process when the web breaks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified mechanism for adjusting the relationship of the gate, distributing, feeding and back up rollers of a coating machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mounting of the back up rollers or paper drums whereby they may be quickly released from engagement with the coating applicator roller when the web breaks andcan be quickly restored to operating position.

j fStill another object of the invention isto provide an improved rope feed mechanism for threading a web'through the coating machine.

additional object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of feeding rollers and web guiding means to facilitate the delivery of the web and the coating composition to the coating zones wherebyboth sides of the web can be coated.

' Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a typical coating machine embodying the present invention.

' Coating machines, according to the present in- "vention, may include cooperating pairsof feeding or applicator rollers and back up rollers between which a web of paper, film or other sheet ma terial is fed in such a waythat coating compositions on the coating or applicator rollers may 'be applied first to one side of the Web by one separate trains of rollers are spaced apart one above the other so that the web passes between the trains into engagement with the pairs of feeding and back up rollers.

More particularly, in coating machines of the type embodying the present invention, the various rollers are mounted in a novel manner to facilitate their adjustment and to permit separation of the rollers in the event that the web breaks during a coating operation or in order to permit more ready cleaning and replacement of the rollers. In order to accomplish these results, the applicator rollers which apply the coating composition to the web preferably are maintained in a fixed position in the frame of the coating machine, while the other rollers are adjustable relatively thereto and retained in position by adjusting and/or quick-release mechanisms.

The back up rollers which cooperate with the applicator rollers preferably are mounted in eccentric bearings so arranged that the upper roller must be lifted against the force of gravity to bring it into cooperative relationship with the feeding rollers. Any suitable means, such as, for example, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or jacks may be used for lifting the back up rollers into operating position. The jacks are arranged for reverse operation to move the back up rollers out of cooperating position with the feeding rollers in the event that the web breaks or for any other desired reason. The machine preferably is provided with adjustable stops whereby the back up rollers may be set precisely with respect to the applicator or coating rollers so that they can be moved to inoperative position and returned to operating position without requiring additional adjustment. 7

Similarly, the gate rollers on the coating fountain may be adjusted in order to regulate the amount of coating composition to be delivered to the web and preferably the entire coating fountain may be adjusted bodily to transfer the coating composition to a series of distributing rollers which in turn deliver the coating composition to the coating or applicator rollers.

The distributing rollers are mounted in inclined guides so that they normally tend to move out of engagement with the coating roller under the influence of gravity but can be moved into cooperating relationship with the coating roller by adjusting the position of the coating fountain.

The location of the two trains of rollers for delivering the coating composition to opposite sides of the web facilitates the feeding of the web being coated to the coating rollers. Thus, the

The coating machines are further provided with suitable electric control systems whereby the positions of the various rollers and elements may be adjusted and the coating machine started and stopped as required. The electrical systems include web break detecting means for shutting down the operation of the coating ma chine and also causing disengagement of the coating and back up rollers when the web breaks to' avoid fouling the back up rollers with the coating composition.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

. Figure l is a top plan view of a typical coating machine" embodying the present invention with parts removed in order to disclose details of construction;

v Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the machine with the motors and part of the frame mechanism omitted to disclose detailso'f constructiom Figure 3 is a view of the opposite side or the machine from Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in end elevation looking toward the right-hand end of the machine, as disclosed in Figure 1:;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on line E-5 of Figure l, disclosing the relationship of the distributing rollers to the coating roller, the supporting mechanism for the rollers being omitted; V

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the control mechanism for one of the back up rollers, the frame of the machine being omitted and parts being shown in section to better disclose the invention;

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism disclosed in Figure 6 Figure '8 is 'a view in longitudinal cross section and partly broken away of the adjusting mechanism for the coating fountain;

Figure '9 is a view in side elevation and partly in section of avibrating mechanism for one of the distributing rollers;

v Figure l0 is-a view in section taken on line ,Figure 11 is a view partly in section and partly broken away, disclosing the clutching mechanism for coupling the rope feedingand threading mechanism to a 'back up roller;

Figure 12 is a view in section of one of the supporting rollers for the web, illustrating the pulley mounting thereon for the rope feeding mechanism;

Figure 13 is a plan vie-w of one of the variable speed V-belt transmissions for the coating machine;

a Figure 14 is a view in section taken on line l4-l4 of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is a schematic wiring diagram for the control mechanism for starting stopping and'rever'sing'the motor for'moving one of the coating fountains; I

Figure 16 is a schematic wiring diagram of the mechanism for controlling the position of the back up rollers in response to detection of a break in the web and also for controlling the rope feeding means; and V Figure 1'7 is a view in side elevation of a modified form of coating machine, shown with parts removed to disclose a modified arrangement of the distributing and applicator rollers.

The invention and the various novel features of a typical form of coating machine will be described in connection with a typical embodiment ofthe invention. While the coating machine hereinafter described is particularly useful for the coating of webs of paper, it will be understood that it can be used for coating filmlike materials and sheets of other types of fiexible material with equal facility.

The coating machine, as best shown in Figures 1 to i, may include asuitable base member it formed of steel, iron or any other material, having sufficient strength to support the various elements of the machine. Extending upwardly from the base at one end thereof are a pair of standards H and 12 which are connected by means of a transverse brace l3 near their upper ends. Near the opposite end of the base are a pair or taller standards Hi and 15 which are connected at their upper ends by a cross member l6 (Figure 4) in order to impart rigidity to them. Other transverse bracing members may be provided at suitable points, as desired.

Extending between the standards l2 and I5, as shown in Figure 3, are two vertically spaced side plate members I! and l8 which are used for supporting various rollers and mechanisms of the machine. The opposite side of the machine is provided with similar side plate elements [9 and 2|] which are substantial mirror images of the side plates l1 and [8, respectively. At the right-hand end of plate 20, as viewed in Figure 2 and the left-hand end of the mate l8, as viewed in Figure 3, are substantially horizontal g'u'i'de fiang'e's 2| and 22 which serve to support a coatgate rollers 30 and 3] onto which the coating composition is delivered. The ends of the nip between the gate rollers are closed by means of the generally T-shap-ed plates 32 and 33 which bearagainst the endsof the roller resiliently under the pressure of suitable springs '34 interposed between the side plates 24 and 25 and the "T- plates to prevent leakage past the ends of the rollers. A pipe 36, which carries the'coating compound, may be supported in loosely fittingholes in plates 32 and 33. The coating compound emergesfrom the pipe 36 through several up ardly directed openings, which allow air u- .bles to escape.

The gap between the rollers -3i! and 3! may be adjusted by means of a micrometer adjusting mechanism including the shafts 31 and "38 (Figure 1) threaded in bosses in the bearings 26 and 28 which are slid'ably mounted on the side plates 24 and 25. Each of the shafts 31 and 38 isprovided with a "worm gear 39 and '40 which is intated'by means of the wornis 4'1 and 42 'inounted on the shaft 43, which isjournalled suitably on the side plates 24 and 25.

The threaded shafts 31 and 38 are supported in'bearings 44 (Figure 3) carried by the side plates, so that, upon rotation of the shafts 31 and 38, the roller 30 is moved toward or away from the roller 3|. The shaft 43 may be provided with a suitable crank or handwheel 45 for rotating it, and. if desired, a further reduction gearing with a micrometer dial 46 (Figure 3) may be provided for making extremely close adjustments of the spacing of the rollers. The clutch 43a on the shaft 43, as shown in Figure 1, permits the two worms 4| and 42 to be disconnected, allowing independent adjustments for aligning roller 30 with roller 3|. Once alignment is established, the clutch 43a is re-engaged.

' The entire coating fountain 23 may be adjusted along the rails 2| and 22 by means of a pair of Worm gear drives, one of which is disclosed in detail in Figure 8 of the drawings and disclosed schematically in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

Referring now to Figure 8, each of the adjusting mechanisms at opposite ends of the fountain 23 may include a threaded shaft 41, which is fixed to' the left-hand end of the coating fountain 23, as viewed in Figure 3. The threaded shaft 4'! is threaded into and fixed to the end plate 25, for example, and extends through a gear housing 48 which is slidably mounted on the rail 22 on the side plate member l3. The housing 48 has a base or lower housing 49 provided with grooves 49a for receiving the rail 22 and retaining the housing 48 on the rail 22. The housing 48 also has generally disc-like side portions 50 and 5| which are provided with tubular extensions 52 and 53, respectively. The upper portion 54 of the housing 48 is semi-cylindrical in cross section for receiving a worm 55 that meshes with a worm gear 56 mounted between the side plate members 5| and 52 and supported for rotation in suitable anti-friction bearings 5'5 and 58. The. actual shape of the housing 48 is unimportant and may be varied as desired. The hub 59 of the worm gear 58 is provided with internal threads engaging the threads 58 on the threaded shaft 41 so that rotation of the worm gear 53 moves the shaft 4! axially to the right or left.

The housing 43 is normally urged toward the right, as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 8, by means of a coil spring 6| which encircles the shaft 41 and has one end abutting against the tubular portion 53 of the housing. The opposite end of the spring 6! bears against the angle member 52 fixed to the standard I2 urging the housing 48 and the lower housing 49 to the right (Figures 3 and 8) to bring the stop lug 4% on the lower housing 49 into engagement with the stop lug 63 fixed to the side plate I8.

In order to shield the operating mechanism from dirt, a tubular sleeve 84 may be mounted on the side plate 25 of the fountain 23 and telescopically receives the tubular portion 52 of the gear casing 01' housing. Similarly, the spring 6| may 55 and the corresponding worm at the opposite end of the shaft ar mounted. The shaft 65 is provided with a pulley 66 for receiving a belt 61 that connects the pulley 68 to an electric motor 68 mounted on the cross member 13. The clutch 65a on the shaft 65, as shown in Figure 1, permits the two sections of the cross shaft 65 to be disconnected for adjusting the alignment between the two ends of the fountain assembly 23. Once the proper alignment is established, the clutch is re-engaged.

The above-described mechanisms permit the adjustment of the coating fountain 23 to the right or to the left and also permit precision adjustment of the gate rollers 30 and 3| with respect to each other. 7

The gate roller 3| is utilized to deliver the coat ing composition to a coating or applicator roller 10 which is rotatably mounted in and supported by means of split journals 69 and 89a on the standards I4 and I5 near their upper ends. The applicator roller 18 is not adjustable, but all of the other rollers of the machines are adjustable with respect to the applicator or coating roller, with the latter serving as a reference point for such adjustment.

The coating composition is transported to the roller from the gate roller 3| by means of a series of three distributor rollers ll, 12 and T3. As shown in Figure 5., the three distributor roll ers may have different surfacing materials thereon, for example, the roller H may be provided with a rubber surface, the roller 12 may be a metal roller, and the rollers 70 and 13 may be provided with rubber surfaces, respectively, in order to facilitate the distribution and transfer of the coating composition to the web. The distributor roller 12 preferably is hollow, as shown in Figure 9, so that coolant may be introduced into this roller to keep the coating composition on the roller below the dew point and thereby prevent an increase in the viscosity of the coating composition while it is being worked on the rol1- ers, as described more. particularly in my copending application Serial No. 710,395, filed November 16, 1946.

As indicated above, the longitudinal adjustment of the fountain 23 may be used for bringing the distributor rollers ll, 12 and it into proper cooperating relationship with-the roller 70. Re ferring now to Figures 2 and 3, the side plates l8 and 20 are provided with inclined guide surfaces 14 and '15 between the applicator roller It and the fountain 23. Each end of the rollers ii, '12 and F3 is supported in a journal block 76,1? and 18, respectively. The journal blocks at opposite ends of the rollers ll, 12 and T3 are alike and therefore only one set of the journal blocks will be described. Each of the blocks is provided with bottom grooves slidably engaging the rail 14. The upper ends of the journal blocks 76, lland [8 are received in a channel member 19 which is in spaced relationship to the guide surfaces "E4 and is retained in such spaced relationship by means of the bracket 88 projecting from the standard l5 and the bracket 8! projecting upwardlyfrom the side plate Hi. The journal blocks 76, ll and 13, therefore, are guided for sliding movement under the action of gravity downwardly toward the fountain 23 so that the roller 3 also tends to move out of engagement with the feeding or applicator roller Proper spacing between and alignment of the rollers H, 12 and T3 is obtained by means of the adjusting wedges 83, 84 and 85 at each end of the rollers 'll, 12 and T3. The wedge 83, which is like the other wedges 84 and 85, includes an inclined surface 83a which bears against a complementary inclined surface 1641 on the journal bloci: l6

and has an opposite edge 83b which extends perpendicular to the guide surface "M. The surface 83b engages the adjacent edge of the journal block Tl. Thus, up or down movement of the wed e 83 varies the spacin between the journal blocks 16 and Ti. Such movement may bead-'- complished by means of a threaded stud 86 which ext-ends through an arm 83c projecting laterally from the wedge member 83 and which is provided with nuts above and below the arm 83s for clam-pmg the Wedge member a in position-l 'rii arm 83c is'provided with a slot, not shown, psi-initting the necessary lateral rncverrient of the wedge E3 with respect to the stud 86. I

The wedge 85 is like the wedge 83, but its vertical surface 85a bears against a fixed stop surface; sea on bracket to to regulate the spacing between the rollers 73 and 10.

Proper spacing between the rollers TI and the gate roll-er 3| may be obtained by means of a similars'pacer construction, in this case a slide member 90 carried on each of the end plates at and 25 having a roller 9i bearing against a projecting lug 1627 on the journal member '16. The

lug 161) has an end surface normal to the guide clear that adjustment of the fountain 23 to the rightlor the left will also adjust the roller i3 toward and away from the feeding roller 10 so that easy adjustment and ready separation of all of the rollers for replacement, cleaning or other purposes can be accomplished without readjusting the parts when it is desired to put the machine into operation.

The journal plates it, I? and 18 are prevented from sliding oil the inclined guideways l4 and "55 by means of downwardly projecting lugs 78c, 11b and 18b which engage corresponding stop lugs 92, 93 and 95, respectively, carried by the side plates it and 23. The lugs are so spaced that when the lugs 93 and 9e engage the lugs 'i'ec, lib and 181), respectively, the distributor rollers H, 12 and 13 are separated from each other.

The rollers 'H and '53 are journalled in selfaligning: anti-friction bearings, so that they will tolerate-misalignment of their two 'ends in case of unequal adjustment or accidental slewing or tilting. ,7 However, the roller 12 is a vibrating roller, which not only rotates, but also reciprocates, and is journalled in plain straight-bore bearings. To protect these bearings and the shaft ends, it is necessary to prevent excessive slewing or tilting of this roller. This is accomplihed bymeans of rack elements 95 and 96 (Fggurus 2 and 3) carried by the journal block I? at opposite ends of the distributor roller F2. These raclns 95 and 98 mesh with gears 9i and Sit, respectively, which are fixed to a shaft es J'O'urnalled in the side plates It and 2%]. Thereforefwhen the journal blocks at opposite ends of the roller 72 slide downwardly, they must slide together through equal distances inasmuch as they are geared together by means of the gears 97 and 98. Sufiicient backlash is provided between racks 95 and 93 and gears 91 and 98, re

spectively, to allow independent adjustment of thewedges at eitherend oi the roller within a few thousandths of an inch of each other. This permits parallel adjustment or the rollers, but at the same time prevents harmful misalignment.

The above described inclined mounting of the distributing rollers has a number of advantages in addition to those described above. The inclined mount decreases the overall length of the machine, which is of particular importance when the machine is to be installed as a part era paper making machine. In addition, if the coating composition should run or drip from the distributor rollers or any oil or grease should leak from their hearings or guides, it will run away from the applicator roller and not contaminate or mar the web.

The applicator or coating roller 15 cooperates with a paper drum or back up roller I00 which is mounted in suitable split bearings NH and 402 mounted on the uprights l5 and M, respectively. The back up roller "in is adapted to be moved out of engagement with the applicator roller Iii and to be moved into engagement with the applicator roller by the mechanism now to be described andbest shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7 of the drawings. As shown in Figures 3 and 6, the bearings liii receive an annular bearing col= lar N33 for rotation therein. The bearing collar 103 is provided with an eccentric disc portion H14 which is rotatable in the hearing or journal l0i, this eccentric portion being also eccentric to the center of the shaft 185 which supports the back up roller Hill. Thus, by rotating the sleeve 163, the back up roller tilt may be movedtoward or away from the applicator roller 16. The opposite end of the roller M38 is mounted in a similar eccentric sleeve construction I06. In order to cause the collar I90 to move without slewing or tilting, the eccentric collars I03 and I06 are provided with arcuate racks or segmental gear portions It? and N38. The segmental gear l0! meshes with an idler gear 39 mounted on a stub shaft H0 projecting from the side plate [5. The idler gear I09 meshes with gear ii I which is fixed to a shaft H2 extending transversely between the standards I4 and 15. The opposite end of the shaft! I2 is provided with a gear H3, like the gear H I, which meshes with idler gear H4. The segmental gear Hi8 meshes with the idler gear H l so that the eccentric collars H13 and ll'iemust'rotate simultaneously through the same angle. However, suflicient backlash is provided between the teeth of the several gears and racks to permit some independent adjustment of the two ends of the roller mil to bring it into parallel relationship with the applicator roller 10.

The collars Hi3 and we are rotated to bring the rollers 10 and IE0 into engagement by means of the following mechanism. Mounted on the standard [5 for movement about a pivot H5 is a pneumatic or hydraulic jack cylinder H6 having a piston and a piston rod H'i provided with a cylindrical end portion I la. The cylindrical end portion H8 engages in a notch HS in and is pivotally connected to a lug I20 which projects outwardly from the collar IE3. When the piston rod H? is retracted, the collar I53 rotates in a counter clockwise direction, thereby moving the roller Hill out of engagement with the roller 10. When the piston rod 1 i7 is projected under pressure, it rotates the collar 103 in a clockwise direction, thereby moving the roller I68 inwardly into engagement with the applicator roller 10. The position of the back uproller sec may be adjusted by the mechanism shown in Figure 6.- This mechanism includes a rod member I2l having. a lower end adapted to engage an abutment momher I22 formed of steel or other material which is fixed to the upper edge of the arm I20. The rod I2 I is guided slidably but non-rotatably. in a bearing I23 carried by the side frame member I and extends through another guide member I24 also mounted on the side frame member I5. An indicating and adjusting nut I25 is threaded on the upper end of the rod I 2I and is retained in engagement with the guide member I24 by means of a flanged ring I26 bolted or otherwise secured to the guide member I24. The upper end of the rod I2I is provided with a pointer I21 which cooperates with a scale I28 fixed to the standard I5 to indicate the adjusted position of the rod I2I. The nut I25 may also be provided with scale markings I26 permitting fine or close adjustment of the rod I2l.

When the rod I2I has been adjusted for proper contact between the rollers 10 and I00, the roller I00 may be retracted and then returned to its adjusted position, as for example, after the paper web has broken and has been rethreaded without necessitating further adjustment of the roller I00. It will be understood that the opposite end of the back up roller may be moved by means of a similar jack I I 6a and adjusted by an adjusting mechanism like that shown in Figure 5.

In order to facilitate the distribution ofthe coating composition over the applicator roller 10, one of the distributing rollers, preferably the roller 12, is vibrated longitudinally. The vibrating mechanism I30 is best shown in Figures 1, 9 and 10. As shown in Figure 1, the roller 12 is carried in bushings in its journal block 11 at opposite ends for reciprocating movement and is adapted to be moved endwise by the reciprocator I30, which is also carried by one of the journal blocks 11. Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the roller 12 has a stub shaft I3I of substantially greater length than the length of the bushing l32' in the journal block 11. The shaft I65 extends into a split housing I33 where it is supported in suitable anti-friction bearings I34 and I35 which prevent relative endwise movement between the housing I33 and the shaft I3I. The shaft I3I is provided with a worm I36 which meshes with a worm gear I31 that has its opposite ends mounted in the bearings I38 and I39, as shown in Figure 10. Extending through the shaft I31 of the worm gear and eccentric to its axis is a shaft I which is provided at opposite ends with disc-like elements MI and I42. Disc MI is anchored to the shaft I40 by means of suit able machine screws I43. The disc MI is provided with an eccentrically located crank pin I44 and the disk I42 also has an eccentrically positioned crank pin I thereon. The assembly consisting of the shaft I40, discs MI and I42 and the crank pins I44 and I45 may be'adjusted angularly with relation to their supporting shaft I40 in order to vary the eccentricity of the crank pins I44 and I45 with respect to the axis of the shaft I31. The crank pins, for example, pin I44, is connected by means of a link I45 to a lug I41 on the journal block 11. The journal block, therefore, forms the anchor point for reciproca tion of the distributor roller 12. As the roller 12 rotates, it, as Well as the housing I33, and the mechanism enclosed therein is reciprocated relatively to the journal block 11. The extent of reciprocation can be varied by adjusting the discs MI and I42 to vary the eccentricity of the crank pins I44 and I45.

The mechanism described above is used for applying a coating composition to one side of the web of paper, and it is substantially duplicated by the mechanism used for applying the coating composition to the other side of the web. Thus, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the other coating train includes a coating fountain I which is adjustable on the side plates I1 and I9 by the adjusting mechanisms I5I, and includes the gate rollers I52 and I53. The gate roller I53 delivers the coating composition to the first of two distributing rollers I54 and I55 which correspond structurally and in their mounting to the rollers 12 and 13 described above. The roller I55 transfers the coating composition to the applicator or coating roller I56 which is mounted in suitable bearings I=51 near the lower portion of standards I4 and I5 and below the applicator roller 10. The applicator roller I51 cooperates with a back up roller or paper drum I58 which is supported on the standards I4, and I5 in exactly the same way as the roller I00.

The paper web W passes between the applicator roller I56 and the back up roller I58'an'd then between the applicator roller 10 and" the back up roller I00. The web is guided into this position by means of an idler roller I60 rotatably mounted in bearings I6I fixed to the standards II and I2, then over and around an idler roller I62 also journalled in the standards II and I2, then over the idler rollers I63 and I64 journalled in the side frames of the machine. From beneath the roller I64, the web passes over a supporting roller I65 and then into the nip between the applicator roller I56 and the back up roller I58, downwardly around the back up roller I58 and upwardly and forwardly between the rollers 10 and I00 and out of the machine over the roller I00. The above-described movement of the web W presents its opposite sides to the applicator rollers I56 and 10.

The pinch roller I65 is journalled in levers I66 at its opposite. ends, which are pivotally mounted in the side framemembers I4 and I5. An ad:- justing screw and handwheel member I61 is pro.- vided which engages the outer end of the levers I66 to move the rollerI65 toward and away fromthe back up roller I58.

The various rollers I60, I62, I63, I64, I65, I50 and I00, together with other rollers to be described, also support a rope feed construction for threading the web through the coating machine. The rope feed mechanism may include two ropes RI and R2 which are adapted to nip one edge of the paper web, between them and cause the paper web to follow the paths of the ropes through the machine. The guide and drive means for the rope feed mechanism are best shown inFigures 11 and 12 of the drawings. Referring to Fig.- ure 11, the drum or back up roller I 58 is provided with a supporting shaft I10 which also forms a. support for a large pulley [H of about the same external diameter as the diameter of the back up roller I58. The pulley I1I is provided with a groove I1Ia for receiving the two ropes RI and R2. The pulley I1I is rotatably mounted on the shaft I10 by means of suitable bearings I12 so that the pulley can rotate relatively to the roller I58. Fixed to the pulley I1I is a large gear member I13 which meshes with a smaller gear I14 keyed to a clutch shaft I15 that is mounted in suitable journal members I16 and I11 on the standard I 5.

The shaft I10 also is provided with a gear I18 which is rotatable therewith and meshes with a gear I19 that is supported for rotation relatively to the shaft I15 by means of anti-friction clutch the gear I19 to the shaft 215.

bearings I80. The hub I8! of the "gear I19 "is provided with an end plate I82 having a cage I83 thereon for receiving slidably a plurality of clutch discs E84. These clutch discs I84 are interleaved with other clutch discs I185 splined to the shaft I15 and slidable axially thereon. The interleaved clutch discs I84 and I85 serve to This is accomplished by means of the shiftable hub member I36 which is splined to the shaft I15. When the member I86 ismoved toward the right, it compresses the clutch discs i8 1 and i135 together and thereby connects the shaft I15 to the gear I19 and as a result causes the pulley IN to rotate with the back up roller I 58. The pulley I11 can be locked or braked against rotation by means of .a similar clutch or brake mechanism I81 having clutch plates carried respectively by shaft, I15 and the journal member I11. The clutching member I85 maybe actuated by a shifter fork I88 in the form of .a bell crank which is pivoted on a pivot pin I89 carried .by-the frame member I5. The end of the bell crank I88, remote from the clutch member 186, is connected to the'piston Iilt of the hydraulic or pneumatic jack I9I, which is pivotally supported on a bracket I92 carried by the standard I5. Thus, when the connecting rod I93 is extended, the pulley I1I is coupled to the back up roller I58 and rotates therewith. When the connecting rod I90 is retracted, the pulley Ill is brought to a standstill by the brake I87.

Each of the rollers (I69, I62, I63, I64 and IE may also be provided with pulleys for supporting the ropes RI and R2. Referring to Figure 12, a typical pulley construction which is shown 'as applied, for example, to the pinch roller IE5,

mit the web to be removed from the coating machine. As best shown in Figure 3, starting at the feed end of the machine, the rope RI passes around a pulley 208, then around the pulleys associated with the rollers 156, I62, I63, I66, I65,

the pulley I1'I, around the corresponding pulley I1Ib associated with the back up roller Itii, then around a pulley 2I3I mounted on an arm 2332 extending from the upright I5, over the pulley 283 mounted on the arm 2M extending outwardly from the standard 'I 5, downwardly and around an idler pulley 205 mounted on the standard I5,

over 'the tensioning pulley 288 and under the tensioning pulley 201 carried by the side plate I8, over the idler pulley 208 and back to the pulley 200.

The lower rope flight R2 passes around the pulley 2139, around the'pulleys associated with the rollers I50, I62, I63, I64, I65, the pulley Ili, the corresponding pulley I-"IIb associated with the drum I80, and downwardly around the idler pulley 2H1 mounted on the arm 2H, extending outwardly from the standard I5. The rope R2 then passes beneath the pulley 205, over the pulley 206, beneath a ten-sioning pulley 2i2 carried by the side plate l3 below thepulley 291, over 1 be varied.

12 Y the pulley 2B8, downwardly beneath the pulley 2I3 and back to the pulley 209.

In a preferred alternative rope lead flights RI and R2 both may be part of a single endless loop of rope. In such case, the inevitable cross-over from the inner flight to the outer flight can be effected between pulleys 296 and 291 with the aid of tension pulley 2 I2.

The various sets of rollers making up the coating machine as described above are driven "by means of suitable transmissions which permit a very flexible adjustment of the relativespeedsof the various groups of rollers. While the transmissions may take many different forms, the :best results are obtained by using a combination of variable speed V-belt transmissions with gear trains which positively connect various sets of the rollers to relate their speeds.

The applicator rollers 10 and 556, and the back up rollers E05 and IE2 are driven independently of the fountains 2-3 and I56, and the sets of dis tributor rollers. The drive mechanism for the applicator rollers 10 and I and the back up rollers Iilil and I58 includes an electric motor 220 (Figures 1 and 4) which is mounted on the base It and drives a shaft 225 having a gear 222 thereon, which meshes with and drives a gear 223 carried'on a shaft 224. The above gear constructions are best shown in Figures 1, 2, 4, 1-3 and 14. The shaft 224 is journalled in suitable bearings carried by the base plate IO and is used to drive the back up roller I58 by means of the gear 225 carried by the shaft 224 and the gear 226 fixed to the back up roller I58. The shaft also carries the cone elements 221 of a variable speed V-belt transmission 22-8. The transmission 2.28 is of con ventional type and is best shown in Figures 13 and '14. The cone elements 221 of the clutch are keyed to the shaft 224 but are slidable relatively thereto in order to vary the spacing between the cone elements 221 which receive the Vrbelts 22:9. Adjustment of the cone elements .221 is accomplished by means of an abutment member 230 which is mounted on the shaft 224 for rotation relatively to the shaft but can be expanded axially to bring the cone elements 22? closely together or to relieve them so that they may separate to permit the V-belts to slide inwardly between the pulleys.

The V-belts 229 also pass around the variable cone pulleys 23I carried by the shaft 2 32 which may be similarly adjusted in the opposite direction from the cone pulleys 22.1 by means-of asuitable expanding and contracting member 233 :ro-

tatably mounted on the shaft 232. Thus, as the cone pulleys 221 become narrower, the cone pulleys 23I become wider, and in this way, the speed relationships of the shafts 224 and 232can The members 23! and 233 may be expanded or contracted by means of a chain 234 which passes around them and engages with the sprockets 235 and 235 carried thereby. The chain 234 also passes around an idler sprocket 231 and a sprocket 238 which may be rotated by means of the bevelled gears 239 and 240 connected respectively to the sprocket 238 and to a handwheel 2M carried in a suitable mount 242 on the base plate til of the machine. Proper tension on the V-belts 229 may be obtainedby means of an idler pulley adjusted in any suitable way, for example, by means of the handwheel 241 a.

The shaft 232 is provided with a gear 243 which meshes with an idler gear 244 (Figure 2) which in turn meshes with a gear 245 fixed to the applicator roller 256. Thus, the motor 220 drives I56 through gearing and the variable speed V- belt transmission 228 so that the relative speeds of these rollers may be adjusted.

The shaft 224 also carries another gear 246 which meshes with a larger idler gear 241 for transmitting of the rotation of the shaft 224 to one end of a variable speed V-belt transmission 248 like the transmission 228 described above. The output gear 249 of the transmission 248 drives two meshing idler gears 250 and I, the latter driving a gear 252 carried on a shaft 253 mounted in the standard Id. The shaft 253 is also provided with a drive gear 254 which meshes with a gear 255 fixed to the back up roller I00. The ratios of the gearing connecting the back up rollers I50 and I58 is such that these rollers can be adjusted to exactly the same speed, or the relative speed of the two back up rollers may be adjusted for the proper draw of the web which may shrink or extend slightly after it receives the first film of coating.

The shaft 253 is also at the end of a variable speed V-belt transmission 25%; like the transmission 228 described above, which also has an output gear 25'! for driving the applicator roller ID by means of the gears 258 and 259, the latter being fixed to the roller H3. The above-described transmission permits wide variation in the speeds of the various rollers, if desired, or they can be adjusted so that the peripheral velocities of all of the rollers are exactly the same.

The fountains 23 and I50 and their associated distributor rollers are driven by means of separate electric motors. The fountain 23 is driven by means of a motor 258 (Figures 1 and 4) having a shaft 25I journalled in the side plates I8 and 20 and provided with a gear 262. The gear 282 meshes with an idler gear 263 (Figure 2) which drives a larger gear 254 meshing with a gear 265 carried on the shaft 31a of the roller 3!. The shaft 3Ia carries at its oppositeend a gear 266 (Figure 3) which drives the roller 39 by means of the idler gears 251, 268 and the gear 269 fixed to the shaft a of the roller 30. This transmission causes the roller 3! to be driven at a higher peripheral velocity than the roller 30.

The motor driven gear 262 is also used to drive the distributor rollers H, 12 and 13. Thus, the gear 262 meshes with the train of gears 210, 2'lI and 272 all mounted for rotation on the side plate 28 and meshing respectively with the gears 21-3, 214 and 2'15 fixed to the shafts Ila, I3I and 73a of the rollers Ii, I2 and '13. All of the rollers II, I2 and I3 may be driven at the same speed, or, by varying the sizes of the gears in the above-described gear train, they may be driven at different speeds. In the preferred design, as shown in Figure 2, the sizes of the gears are so selected as to drive the roller 13 at a higher speed than 12, which in turn is running at a speed higher than speed of the roller II. The gear 214, furthermore, differs from the other gears 213 and 215 in that it is thicker than these gears in order to permit a reciprocation ofthe roller I2 without disengaging its driving gear 2'.

The fountain E58 and the associated applicator rollers I54 and I55 are driven by a similar gear train 218 which is driven by'means of the shaft 21? connected with an electric motor (not shown).

All of the motors may be of variable speed type so that their speeds may be correlated in order to obtain the proper roller speeds under operating conditions. Each of the motors may be provided with suitable controllers in order to start and stop them and also to adjust theirspeed.

As indicated previously, the fountains 23 and I50 are arranged to be moved toward and away from the applicator rollers I0 and I56. In order to control the movement of the fountains and thus prevent damage to the machine by overrunnin g the projected and retracted limit positions, each of the fountains 23 and I50 and its associated driving mechanism, is provided with a limit switch which is best shown in Figures 2 and 8 of the drawings. The lower housing 49 of the projecting and retracting mechanism is provided with a downwardly extending lug 280 and a link 28l pivotally connected to it. The link 23I is connected to a bell crank lever282 (Figure 2) carried by the side frame member 20. The bell crank 282 is adapted to engage a C- shaped arm 284 of a toggle type switch 285. The c-shaped arm 284 is so positioned that when the fountain 223 moves toward the housing 49, the lug 283, which is attached to the fountain side plate 24, will strike the right-hand branch of the C-shaped arm 284, as shown in Figure 2, and rotate it clockwise, which will throw the limit switch.

When'the fountain 23 is moved to the left, it will eventually fetch up all the adjustable stops such as 90, 83, B4 and in contact with their respective strike member (see Figure 3). At this instant, the lug 89b will separate from the stop 63 and the preloaded spring 6|, as best shown in Figure 8, will begin to collapse due to the movement of the worm gear housing in a direction away from the fountain. This movement by means of the lug 280 and the link 28I, causes the bell crank 282 to rotate clockwise, striking the left side branch of the C-shaped arm 284 and rotating in counter-clockwise. Thus, as soon as the pressure of the spring 3| is brought to bear against the several stops such as 98, 83, 84 and 85, the limit switch 285 is thrown.

The circuit for controlling the motor 68, which moves the fountain 23, is disclosed in Figure 15.

The limit switch 235 is illustrated with the C- shaped arm 284 in its two different positions and with the arm 284 in cooperative relationship with the contacts 285a, 2851), 2850 and 285d.

The motor 68 is of the three phase type and is provided with a conventional solenoid brake 5811.

The control circuit includes two relays 289 and 285 for forward revers o eration and the three momentary contact switches, 29I for forward operation, 292 for reverse, and 293 for stopping the motor 58. The circuit includes the three power lines 294, 295 and 286 which are connected respectively to the contacts 2819a, 2891) arid 2890 of the relay 289 and the contacts 290e,

' 23th and 298a of the relay 230. The opposed contacts 289d, 2891; and'289f of the relay 289 are connected by means of conductors 291, 238 and 295 to the motor leads 3B2, 30| and 300, respectively. The motor leads 382, 30! and 308 are also connected to the contacts 290d, 293a and 280 respectively, of the relay 290. g The motor leads 300 and 302 may be provided with coils of a temperature overload relay and a suitable resistance, as may be desired.

The relay 289 is provided with a relay coil 289g for shifting the relay blade contacts 28%, 2897c, 2892 and 288m. One end of the coil 289g is con nected by means of the conductor 306 to the lower tact29llh of therelay 290. crating contact 29311 is connected by the con ,ductor 3m to the contact zero of the switch 29l contact 231a of the switchv 29!. The opposite endof the coil 289g is connected by the conduo-tor 305 to the contact 28.50 of the limit switch. The opposite contact 285d of the switch is con- :nected by the conductor 333 to the lower contact 2892) of the switch'29l. The conductor 333 is also connected by means of conductor 301 to the contact 235d of the limit switch 2.8.5. The opposite contact 23'5bis connected by the conductor 308 to the relay coil 2939, the opposite end of which is connected by conductor 369 to the con- The opposite coopand by the conductor 3| I to the contact 232a of the switch 292..

In-order to form a holding circuit through the relay coil 233g, when it is desired to advance the fountain 23, for example, a connection is made through the conductor 312 between the ,conductor 3% and the contact 2831i of the relay Q2891 The-opposite contact 28933 is connected by the conductor M3 to thecontact 232i) of the switch 292' and'the contact-Nicer the switch 291 The contacts 2.9m, 2320 and the contact "2930 are connected. in series; "The. opposite contact 293i) of the stop switch" 293 is connected by the conductor 3!!! to. the, contact 289C of the relay, and hence to the .power line 29.6. ,The contact 232d of the switch 292 is connected by the conductor 316 to the relay contact .290h.

The relay 2.33 is provided with four shiftable contact blades 290 2987c, .2901. and 293m, which are shifted by the coil 293g. In Operation, assuming that.

responding to the retracted position of the fountain', f.when the switch 29] is depressed to advance the fountain, it connects the two switch contacts 29l-a and 2910. A circuit is thereby completed from the power line 295 to contact 28%, conductor 333, contact. 285a, contact .2850, conductor 305, coil 269g, contacts 29la, 29lc, contacts 292b, 2920, 233a, 293b, conductor 314 to contact 2830 and power line 296, thereby energizing the relay coil 289g. This shifts all of the relay switch blades 289k, 2897c, 2891 and 289m into engagement with their cooperatingcontacts. This movement connects the power lines 294,

295 and 295, respectively, to the power lines 302,;

3M and 3011, thereby starting the motor 68 in a direction to cause the fountain to be advanced.

At the same time, a holding circuit through relay coil 289g is formed from the contact 292b, conductor 3l3, relay contact 289p, relay blade 289m, contact 28911, conductor 3l2 to the line 305 -.so that upon release of the switch button of the and 292d. A circuit is created thereby, as follows:

Power line 295, conductor 303, switch contacts 285a, 285d and 285b, conductor 308, relay coil 290g, conductor 309, conductor 3l6, contact 29211, contact 292a, conductor 3, contacts 23Ib and the contact at 1284 of the limit switch 285 is in position B coris 2!]ld,v contacts 293a and 2931),. conductor 3L4 to power line 296, thereby energizing the relay coil 290g. Actuation of the relay connects the power lines 294, 295 and 295, respectively, to the power.

lines 330, 30! and 302, thereby reversing the direction of the motor 68. At the same time, the switch blade 290m creates a. holding circuit through the coil 290g from conductor 309., .6011- tacts 29th and 29011,, conductor 3I0, switch contacts 2911) and l9ld, contacts 293a and 293b, conductor 3|4 to power line 295. The relay coil 230g therefore remains energized until the switch arm 284 is again shifted in response to the move ment of the fountain to the limit of its retracted position.

If at any time it should be desirable to stop the motor 68 before either limit is reached, the switch 293 may be actuated, thereby deenergizing either relay coil 289 or 290 inasmuch as all connections through the relay coils 289g and 2939 to the power line 295 are made through the switch 293.

The coating machine illustrated herein is also provided with automatic web break detecting means which acts to retract the back up rollers 100 and 158 to prevent the coating material on the applicator rollers 70 and I from being applied directly to the surfaces of the back up rollers inthe absence of a paper web .therebetween. Theweb; break detector is best shown in Figures -.2 and 16. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of switches 320, 323a, 32| and 32m are disposed adjacent the web and have contact fingers 322 and 323 bearing against the web to normally maintain'the switches open. As many of the switches 320, 32!, etc. as may be desired may be placed along the path of the web W. 1

Referring now to Figure 16, the web W is shown as passing beneath four switches 320,32],

320a and 32141, which are held open by theweo.

The web break detecting means may be connected to a pair of power lines 325 and 323 by means of a single throw double pole switch 32-! whichmakes and breaks the connection between the power lines 325 and 326 and the lines323 and 329. The line 328 is connected to one contact of each of the switches 320, 320a, 32! and 32m; The switches 323, 32011, 32| and 321a are connected in parallel. The opposite contacts of the switches 323 and 323a are connected by conductor 330 to a solenoid 33l for controlling an air control selector valve 332 provided with two valve elements 332a and 3322) for opening and closing the conduits 333 and 334 which enter into the valve casing. Although a compressed air system is described, a hydraulic system can be used instead, if desired. The opposite side of the solenoid 33! is connected to the conductor 329. The

solenoid 33l acts to open the valve 332a to admit air or other fluid under pressure to the conduit 334 from the conduit 335 which is connected through a pressure reducing valve 336 to anonduit 331, which is connected to a source of air or other fluid under pressure. The valve 332is so designed that when the valve 332a is open to admit air or other fluid under pressure to the conduit 333, the conduit 334 is vented to atmosphere or return-drain line and when the valve 332a closes it vents the conduit 333 to atmosphere or return-drain line and opens the valve 33% to supply pressure to the conduit 334; When the valve 33% is opened to admit pressure to the conduit 334, the conduit 333 is vented to atmosphere or return-drain line.

The switches 320, 320a, 32 I, 32 la which are parallel-connected with 

